The Conduct of the Paxton Men Impartially Represented - 20
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since the last War, that he was one of the three that killed old James (or William) Hamilton, on Sherman’s Creek, the Beginning of last War, and another Man, with six or seven of his Family. And farther this Deponent saith, that after the last War, said James Cottes demanded of said Deponent a Canoe, which he had found, or Payment in lieu thereof, which Canoe the said Murderers had left, as Cottes said, at the Time said Murder was committed.” And farther saith not,
Sworn and subscribed before THOMAS FOSTER, by
ALEXANDER STEPHEN.
N.B. Jegrea was an old Indian that had formerly been a Warrior, but had now quit going to War, and was threatening the Connestogoe Indians, if they would go to War against the white Peopel, and dissuading and commanding them from it.
ANN-MARY LEROY, of the Town of Lancaster, appear’d likewise before the Chief-Burgess, and being sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, did depose and say, “That in the Year 1755, when her Father, JOHN JACOB LEROY, and many others were murdered by the Indians, at the Great Mahannoy, she, this Deponent, her Brother, and some others were made Prisoners, and taken to the Kittaning Town, and that during her four Years Captivity, the French Officers were furnish’d weekly, or once in two Weeks, with the Pennsylvania Gazette. That she saw strange Indian Messengers come frequently, whom the French Officers and Interpreters told this Deponent, were the Canestogoe Indians---and that at the same Time they assur’d this Deponent, that the ENGLISH had not one Indian in their Interest, except ISAAC; and that the Canestogoe Indians were willing to take up the Hatchet against the ENGLISH, whenever the French would request them to do it”-----This Woman hath moreover declar’d on her Oath, that since her Return from Captivity, BILL SOC’s reputed Mother came to her, this Deponent, at Lancaster, and after some Enquiry about the Indian Family, with whom she was a Prisoner; this Deponent ask’d said SOC’s Mother, if she had ever been out in the Back-Parts? who replied, she had not, but that her son BILL SOC had been out often, and would again: and that he was good for Nothing; or Words to that Effect.” [THERE are any more Depositions (I am told) to the same Purpose, which I have not seen. But surely there are sufficient to satisfy the Publick, that not only “Will Soc, but the whole Tribe, were really Guilty of those Offences against us, which were laid to his Charge.” And that “the Makers and Venders of these Accusations can produce that “Evidence” which the Author of the NARRATIVE has so publickly call’d for.
The foregoing are true Copies of the Affidavits passed.
